lay down the law

Register · Neutral Neutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff. CEFR B2

Post

Example

“After repeated late arrivals, the coach laid down the law about punctuality.”

Dictionary details

Component words

lay law

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

lay a finger on Informal · CEFR B2

to touch or interfere with a person, usually in a warning against causing harm

fall in line Neutral · CEFR B1

to obey or accept the rules and expectations set by a group or authority

under lock and key Neutral · CEFR B1

kept securely locked away so that access or escape is prevented

hold the line Neutral · CEFR B2

to maintain a position, decision, or principle despite pressure

take liberties Neutral · CEFR B2

behave with more freedom or authority than is acceptable, often without permission

every which way Informal · CEFR B1

in every direction, often in a scattered or disorderly way

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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